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destdest 's review for:

Wildfire by Breena Bard
4.5
hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This was charming. It weaved in environmental + climate change + forest fires seamlessly in a way that was still engaging but not preachy. 

I also liked the understanding parents. In many of these stories, the parents just tell the kids to get over major changes in their lives; but the parents had empathy here. Julianna is allowed to feel angry, frustrated, and sad. While the parents encouraged her to speak about her feelings, they let her sit with them.

“Maybe someday, forgiveness could be a path toward healing. Maybe activism will be. Maybe something else entirely. But you do need to heal, and that takes time.”

Overall, I enjoyed the measured approach to emotional issues and protecting the environment.